Tag: education

This is the most important and difficult piece I’ve ever written.Content warning: suicide, depression, mention of eating disorder

In the past couple of years, I have conducted the BBC Philharmonic in concert and the Concertgebouw Orchestra in rehearsals, I have won and fulfilled one of the most coveted young conductor posts in the world (the Junior Fellowship at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester), I have co-organised and officiated at the funerals of my father, my grandmother and my cousin, I’ve had a second coming out as pansexual, genderqueer and polyamorous, I’ve become somewhat of an activist regarding the damaging stigma associated with HIV and PrEP, and even managed to successfully move house several times. Yet, writing and sharing this text has, perhaps, been more challenging than any of these things. Continue reading “How I finally became Manoj”

In 1996, at age 8, I became a pupil in Claire Burnill‘s class at the Colombo International School in Sri Lanka. I remember our first meeting: me being very shy about meeting my new teacher, she being slightly scattered because my parents and I walked into her new classroom unannounced during the summer holidays while she was busy setting up for the new academic year. Continue reading “From many different countries…”

About Manoj

Manoj is a musician and theatre maker who also enjoys writing about music, performance, LGBTQ+ issues and life in general. If you would like me to perform, write and/or talk for your organisation please contact me.